Christmas Closing and Opening

BMSTC will be closing for Christmas at 3.00pm on Friday 21st December and re-open at 9.00am on Wedesday 2nd January 2013. 

Limited oxygen will be available during the week we are closed.  Please call 0118 901 6000 for further details.

Best wishes to all our supporters, members and volunteers from the BMSTC team for a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful and Healthy New Year! :0)x

BMSTC Christmas Party thanks!

Thank you to everyone who came along to the BMSTC Christmas Party last Friday.

We had a lovely afternoon with great company, food and wonderful entertainment from the Clarinets from Trinity Concert Band and of course Carols from Wilson Road Primary School!

Evidence for Sativex reviewed

Source MS Trust:

Sativex is a cannabis-based medicine which was licensed in June 2010 as a treatment for spasticity in MS. A review in the December 2012 issue of Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin (DTB) has suggested there is not enough evidence to support the use of Sativex routinely in treating spasticity in MS.  Read more here!

BMSTC Christmas present!

One of our volunteers walked in last weekwith a cheque for BMSTC from his son for £10,000!

What a fantastic Christmas present for the Centre, we were all speechless!! :0)))

Pregnancy and MS

Source MS Society:

Cat's blog appears in December edition of MS Society's Northern Ireland's newsletter.
With less than five days to go until my baby was due to be born, you would think I would be finding better things to do than filming for the MS Society.  Read more here!

Multiple sclerosis: World's highest rate in Orkney Islands

Source BBC:

Scotland's Orkney Islands have the highest rate of multiple sclerosis (MS) in the world, according to a major new study.

Researchers said that the rate for probable or definite MS was now 402 per 100,000 people, up from a previous 309 per 100,000 which was recorded in 1974.  For more click here.

Chief Executive Simon Gillespie to join British Heart Foundation

Source MS Society:

Farewll to Simon Gillespie, CEO of MS Society to join British Heart Foundation.  Read more here.

BMSTC Christmas Party - Friday 14th December!

Don't forget the BMSTC Christmas Party is on Friday 14th December from 1.00 to 3.00 pm here at the Centre!

Entertainment from Wilson Primary School who will sing some festive Carols and also the Clarinet Group from Trinity Concert Band.

Light buffet and refreshments will be served but please do bring a bottle! 

No need to RSVP - everyone welcome!

Junior Physio wanted at BMSTC!

We are looking for a Junior Physio to cover whilst Henriette is off on maternity leave!

9 months fixed term contract, 31 hours per week, Monday to Friday with some flexibility. 

For more information and application form see our website here. 

Any enquiries please contact ruth@bmstc.org or call 0118 901 6000 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0118 901 6000 end_of_the_skype_highlighting .

Please feel free to share this post with anyone you think who may be interested!

Expert Patient Programme - FREE Courses

Expert Patient Programme - FREE course to help you learn to manage life with your conidtion in partnership with your health professional.
 
Next local courses 10th Jan to 21st Feb 10am to 1pm Chalfont Surgery (Brookside) Lower Earley Reading or 11th Jan - 22nd Feb 10am to 1pm Christ Church Woodley, Reading. 

9th Jan to 20th Feb Wokingham Methodist Church, Wokingham and  7thJan to 18th Feb Cornerstone at Wokingham.

Call 0800 988 5560 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0800 988 5560 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or email get.info@eppcic.co.uk for more information.
or visit their website here.

Rough guide Accessible Britain

The fourth edition of the Rough Guide to Accessible Britain is now available to view for free via the Zinio online reader . It’s packed with over 200 inspiring ideas for fantastic worry-free days out with reviews, hints and tips on some of the UK’s best attractions written by and for disabled people.

Read more here.

Hannah Trunk's Stella & Dot event!

If anyone would like to order online here is the link, the M.S centre's party will be open until the 17th December so plenty of time to make a wish list, pass it on to friends and family http://www.stelladot.co.uk/ts/7fvjn1

What support is most helpful to people with MS at work?

Source MS Trust:

A recently published review of the literature has highlighted ways that people with MS can be supported at work most effectively.  Read more here.

Factsheets - Disability Rights UK

Interesting information on various benefits, tax credits, social care and other related issues for claimants and advisers. Particular interest is the changes to DLA and the introduction of Personal Independence Payment (PIP) from April 2013.  Read more here!

Last day for Reading Post Tokens!

Wednesday 5th December will be the last day you can collect the Wish Tokens from the Reading Evening Post to help BMSTC win a share of their community pot of money!

Stem cells being made from blood

Source BBC:

A patient's own blood has been used to make personalised stem cells, which doctors hope will eventually be used to treat a range of diseases.

The team at the University of Cambridge says this could be one of the easiest and safest sources of stem cells.  Read more here.

Useful website!

Aid4Disabled is here to offer you, as a disabled person, your family, carers and your friends, valuable advice, information, independence and, we hope, as a result, a better quality of life.  For more click here!

Positivity is key to dealing with MS

Source The Weston Mecury.

YOU either adapt or you go under’, says one multiple sclerosis (MS) sufferer who believes positivity is the key to living with the disease.  Read more here!

Christmas Fayre Success!

The Link Group's very successful Christmas Fayre took place on Saturday. Reading West MP, Alok Sharma, cut the ribbon and declared the event open, alongside committee members Glynis Wilks, Penny Russell, Sue Smith and Sheila Booth.                                                    
The Fayre raised £1,755.91 for the Centre, and we would like to thank everyone who worked to hard to make it a success.



Stop Press - London Marathon Gold Bond Place available!

London Marathon 2013

We have ONE place left for the forthcoming London Marathon. If you know someone who would like to take on this challenge and raise sponsorship for the Centre, please email Jackie@bmstc.org for more details.

Christmas Fayre this Saturday 24th November!

Don't forget to come along to our Christmas Fayre this Saturday 24th November!

For more details click here!

Special Shopping Evening - Reading

This year's Special Shopping Evening for Older and Disabled People takes place on Monday 3 December between 6pm - 8pm in the Town Centre.

Find out more here!

Marshalls needed!

We are looking for volunteers to road marshall for the Centre at the forthcoming Reading Half Marathon, taking place on Sunday 17th March.

All our marshalls are placed next to the Madejski Stadium and have a birds eye view of the start and finish of the race plus the Centre gets a generous donation for the organisers:)

 If you know anyone who would like to help out, please contact Jackie at the Centre on 0118 901 6000 or email jackie@bmstc.org

Nose cell transplant enables paralysed dogs to walk

Source BBC:

"Prof Franklin said the procedure might be used alongside drug treatments to promote nerve fibre regeneration and bioengineering to substitute damaged neural networks."  For more click here.

UM Scientist Succeed in Developing Polymer Nanofiber Technologies for a Promising Nerve Research

 Source SpecialChem:

"What we need to do for multiple sclerosis is to encourage nerves to remyelinate," he says. "For nerve damage caused by trauma, on the other hand, we need to encourage regeneration."

Read more here!

Views sought on strengthening NHS Constitution

Proposals to strengthen the NHS Constitution are set out for public consultation today, with the NHS, patients and public are all being asked to respond.  Read more here.

Breakthrough Nanoparticle Halts Multiple Sclerosis in Mice, Offers Hope for Other Immune-Related Diseases

Source Science Daily:

In a breakthrough for nanotechnology and multiple sclerosis, a biodegradable nanoparticle turns out to be the perfect vehicle to stealthily deliver an antigen that tricks the immune system into stopping its attack on myelin and halt a model of relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) in mice, according to new Northwestern Medicine research.  Read more here.

4 Relapsing Remitting MS patients to take part in paid market research

We are looking for 4 Relapsing Remitting MS patients to take part in paid market research. 

 

The aim of the research is designed to help understand exactly what it is like to live with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis.

 

 Patient contribution to the study is invaluable and can help research and development in MS.

 

• The interviews will be conducted in the patient’s home
• Duration: 60mins
• Incentive: ...
• £60 cash on the day
• Dates available (all subject to confirmation):
• Mon & Tues (19th and 20th Nov), Fri (23rd Nov)
• Mon (3rd Nov), Tue (4th Nov), Thurs (6th Nov) and Fri (7th Nov)
• Time: When it’s suitable for the patients and to be confirmed when booking the appointment.

 

If you are interested or know someone else who might be then we would like to hear from you.

 

Please Contact: Sam smith

Mob: 07788 725 557 or email: Sam.s@fieldscopeint.com

 

Best wishes,

 

Sam

Bonus Tokens Today - Reading Post Make a Wish

Please don't forget to collect your Wish Tokens from the Reading Evening Post and bring or send them into BMSTC!  Bonus tokens in todays edition!

The Reading Post will be distributing a share of £15,000 to all of the 142 groups registered with the campaign, which of course includes BMSTC!

Thank you!

Living well with MS: a role for psychology?

Source MS Trust:

When we think about the effects that a condition such as MS can have on people's lives, it is not surprising that mood problems are common. Over the last year, we set up a psychology service in Surrey offering two frequently used approaches (CBT and MBCT) that research has shown can improve mood and help people adapt to and cope with living with MS. In this article we describe these two approaches and include some of the comments made by our clients who took part.  For more click here.  

 

Note:  CBT is available at BMSTC for people living in the West Berkshire PCT area.  For more information call NHS Talking Therapies on 0118 9769121.   The service is also in other areas by contacting your local PCT.

 

Health and Wellbeing Event - 21st November

On behalf of the Physical Disabilities and Sensory Needs (PDSN) Network, we would like to invite you to a health and well-being event at the Civic Centre, Reading on Wednesday 21^st November at 10.30am.

As well as have an opportunity to have your say on proposals outlined in the Council’s draft Health and Well-Being Strategy, we will also have short presentations about the role of the Health and Well-Being Board, Healthwatch and Clinical Commissioning Groups.

We are delighted to have presentations from:

–       Berkshire Physiotherapy Centre who will be covering neuro-physiotherapy for people with disabilities such as MS, Parkinson’s disease, cerebral palsy, stroke and MND;

–       The Royal Berkshire Hospital covering breast screening for women with a disability and

–       The Stroke Association covering life after a stroke

Refreshments will be provided so please advise of your attendance by contacting me via my email address or alternatively pdsn@reading.gov.uk

Angela Todd
Service Development and Partenrships
0118 937 4114

MSNTC (MS National Therapy Centres) is working with the MS Society in a project to put people with MS at the centre of setting research priorities.

It is crucial that research into MS answers the questions that are most important to people affected by MS.

 This project aims to find the top 10 unanswered questions in MS research. For more click here.

MS Society grant to research Oxygen.

Source MS Society:

The MS Society has recently given a research grant towards a project run by a Bio-Scientist who is trying to understand how oxygen help. Follow the link to the heading "A new therapy for new relapses?" - great to see that Oxygen Therapy is being studied :0)

Study "Experiences of Multiple Sclerosis"

Please particiapte in this study...

A Study of Responses to Diagnosis and Living with MS Participant Information Sheet (June 2012)

"This study has been reviewed and received a favourable opinion from the University of Surrey Ethics Committee.
Thank you for expressing an interest in this study or multiple sclerosis (MS), which is part of PhD research in Health Psychology at the University of Surrey. Please read the following information and feel free to discuss this with someone else before deciding to take part.

What is this study about?
The study is intended to find out about how people responded to being diagnosed with MS and then how they continue to feel about living with the condition. The research aims to understand thoughts and feelings about MS, about how people think and cope."  Read more here.

Researcher, Bridget Jones, will be at BMSTC on the morning of Thursday if you would like to talk to her about the study.

 

New MS drug is 'most effective'

Source BBC:

A new drug is the "most effective" treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis, say UK researchers.

During MS the body's immune system turns on its own nerves causing debilitating muscle problems.  Read more here.

Green Park Children's race!

Do you know any children who would like to take part in the GREEN PARK CHALLENGE, a children's race that takes place a few minutes before the READING HALF MARATHON on Sunday 17th March?

We have FREE places to give out to family and friends of the Centre who want to raise funds sponsorship. Please contact jackie@bmstc.org

Christmas Fayre - Request letter from our Link Group

Hello Everyone!

Christmas Fayre - 24th November 2012, 1pm to 3.30pm

Once again we are planning the Christmas Fayre and this year local MP Alok Sharma will perform the opening ceremony. As usual we are asking for your help. Please will you donate any of the following?

• A prize for the raffle or tombola. Any new, unused items would be very welcome.
• Soft Toys which can be used as prizes.
• Wine for prizes in the Wine Raffle
• Cakes to serve with tea and coffee on the day and for people to buy and take home.
• Jewellery for our jewellery stall

PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DO NOT NEED BRIC-A-BRAC THIS TIME. WE HAVE SO MUCH THAT STORAGE IS BECOMING A PROBLEM!

There is a box under the desk in the reception area at the Centre into which donated items can be placed. Please give wine to Tracy or Jackie for safe keeping. Please bring cakes along on the day, or a day or two before. It would be helpful if cakes could have a label saying what they are and whether they contain nuts.

Other ways you can help

Are you or any of your family and friends available to help on the day? We need able-bodied people to help set up the tables from 9 am to 11 am. Also help is needed at the end of the day (dismantling tables and clearing up) from about 3pm to 5pm. If you or anyone you know could help with this (or in any other way) there will be a volunteers' form at the Centre for you to complete or please phone the Centre.

Please come along on the day with your friends and family. You will find lots of stalls with allsorts of things to buy and delicious cakes to eat in or take away. Tea, coffee and cold drinks will also be available and of course Santa will be there in his grotto.

Many thanks for your support and we look forward to seeing as many of you as possible at the Fayre.

Sue Smith

BMSTC Members' Link Group

Email: susan.smith123@tiscali.co.uk

 

Looking for answers about MS?

Source MS Trust:

Looking for answers? The MS Trust provides evidence-based, high quality, information for anyone affected by MS. All our publications are free and you can download them here

New website launched to help with care planning

Source Find me good care:

There are many types of care and support. You can use our Good care planner to consider the options available and the outcomes you want. You can plan care for yourself or for someone else.  For more click here.

New Event - Endure 24!

Endure 24 is a new event taking place over the weekend of the 8th & 9th June 2013 and BMSTC are the official nominated charity!

Endure 24 is a twenty four hour race run over a 5 mile loop of woodland trails.  It takes place in the scenic Wasing Park Estate, Aldermaston near Reading.   Free camping, showers, 24 hour catering, enterntainment and beautiful surroundings give it an exciting festival feel.

BMSTC are looking for individuals or teams to particiapte and raise sponsorship for the Centre.  We also need volunteers to help marshall the event.  If you are interested in either, please contact Jackie on 0118 901 6000 or email jackie@bmstc.org

Move it for MS

Source MS Trust:

Move it for MS – these video clips on the MS Trust website have something for everyone as Mr Motivator covers getting the most from going to a gym and matching exercises to what you feel comfortable doing.  For more click here.

Spontaneous 'natural' improvements in MS

Source MS Trust:

New research shows about a quarter of people with MS experience naturally occurring periods of improvement in disability.  Read more here.

Universal Credit: Disabled people 'to lose out'

Source BBC:

Up to half a million disabled people and their families stand to lose out under the government's proposed Universal Credit, a report says.  Read more here.

Low earners miss out on fuel grants

Source the Independent:

Turn2Us has warned that as many as half the people eligible for help with fuel bills don't claim the benefits to which they are entitled.  Read more here.

Symptoms of MS

Source MS Trust:

MS can cause a wide variety of symptoms. No two people with MS experience the same symptoms.

For more click here.

Reading West MP Alok Sharma to open Christmas Fayre!

The BMSTC Christmas Fayre will be officially opened by Reading West MP Alok Sharma on Saturday 24th November at 1.00 pm. Come along and buy your Christmas gifts and cards!

For more information please see our event page here.

The Miracle of one of our members!

Reported in a number of national press publications, this particular link is to the Independent.

"Jeremy Laurance on the miracle of the woman who came back from the dead – and why it matters for us all"

"I have shaken her hand, held her gaze and spent more than an hour chatting with Tasleem Rafiq and her children and I can report that she is no ghost. The 52-year-old mother of four is very much alive." Read more here.
 

Shaping the Future of Healthcare in East Berkshire

Have your say and help to shape future of health services in the community  in East Berkshire by taking part in this public consultation.  For more information click here.

Largest study on CCSVI and multiple sclerosis reports back

Source MS Society:

Results of the largest blinded study on CCSVI to date have been announced.  The study looked at the prevalence of CCSVI in 1165 people with MS, 376 people without MS and 226 people with other neurological conditions.  Read more here. 

Availability of alemtuzumab

Source MS Trust:

Alemtuzumab is an experimental drug treatment for people with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis that is currently going through the licensing process with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) in the US. If approved, it is expected to be marketed under the name Lemtrada.  Read more here.

MS trial to explore vitamin D links

Source abc.net

A world-first clinical trial beginning in Hobart today will assess if vitamin D can stall or prevent the development of multiple sclerosis (MS).  Read more here.

Electronic prescription service

Source NHS Berkshire Health Network News:

EPS is a new service for patients who regularly receive repeat prescriptions from their GP.

Read more here.

Get the Jab, Get Flu Safe

Source NHS Berkshire Health Network News:

If you have a long term condition you are more at risk if you get flu and should be vaccinated against it.

Read more here.

Cannabis-based pill can improve muscle stiffness in MS

Source MS Society:

 

Researchers announced that a pill containing the cannabis extract, tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC), improved muscle stiffness in people with MS.  

 

Read more here.

Researchers announced they have found a treatment that might slow the progression of MS in people in the later stages of the condition.

Source MS Society:

Researchers announced today they have found a treatment that might slow the progression of MS in people in the later stages of the condition.
In one of the first positive clinical trials for progressive MS, simvastatin – a cholesterol lowering drug – was found to potentially benefit people with secondary progressive MS (SPMS).

Read more here. 

News from ECTRIMS - a major conference on treatment and research in MS

Source MS Trust:

A range of blogs, videos, updates and analyses are available online

This week (October 10-13), ECTRIMS (European Committee for Treatment and Research In Multiple Sclerosis) is holding its annual conference in Lyon, France. ECTRIMS 2012 is bringing together over 7000 clinicians and scientists to share research findings in MS at this week’s meeting . The ECTRIMS annual conference is the largest annual international conference devoted to basic and clinical research in multiple sclerosis.

Read more here.

Exclusive: MS drug 'rebranded' – at up to 20 times the price

Source The Independent:

A pharmaceutical company stands accused of putting profit before patients after withdrawing a drug used in the treatment of a chronic debilitating disease – ahead of relaunching it at a price predicted to be up to 20 times higher.

Read more here.

Interview: George Pepper (Shift MS)

Source MS Society:

George Pepper was 22 when diagnosed with MS. In the first 15 months after his diagnosis George experienced seven relapses. Following this crash course in the condition, George created the social networkShift.msto allow young MSers to meet.

Read more here.

Please collect tokens for BMSTC!

Last week  the Reading Post is launched their 'Make A Wish 12' campaign which means they have £15,000 to give away to local good causes, which includes the Berkshire MS Therapy Centre!

They will be printing tokens in the paper for you to collect and put in a box  that is available on the Centre's reception desk. This Wednesday they are putting 20 tokens inside rather than the normal 4.
To find out more please email Kirsten@bmstc.org or log onto www.getreading.co.uk/wish